OPS-SAT: ESA’s Flying Lab, Open to All

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What would you do with a powerful computer based in space? At just 30 centimeters in height, OPS-SAT is a tiny CubeSat designed to serve as a large-scale software laboratory in orbit–containing one of the most powerful flight computers ever flown–to test innovative control software from teams all over Europe. Anyone can apply to try out their software aboard OPS-SAT, from companies to research teams to computer clubs, linking directly from the internet. The small satellite packs in a high-resolution camera, radio antennas, optical receiver, reaction wheels and GPS. OPS-SAT can be rebooted if any experimental software crashes, allowing otherwise risky inflight testing as a way to make space smarter.